JPP’s Official Endorsements 2024
Thank you to all our JPP members who voted in this endorsement process ! We are grateful to you for your passion and efforts. If you’d like to become an official member of JPP (with voting rights), please click here and fill out our registration form.
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for President/VP
JP Progressives endorses Kamala Harris for President in the 2024 election. Kamala Harris represents a crucial choice for protecting the rights and policies that are at imminent risk this election, from preserving reproductive rights to LGBTQ+ rights to addressing the climate crisis. While Harris may not offer sweeping change we would hope for, we believe she will not further erode the democratic structures that allow us to continue fighting for these and other causes we hold dear. At a moment when so much is on the line, her leadership offers a way to slow the rollback of essential rights and freedoms that would accelerate under a Trump regime guided by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.
We cannot ignore the Biden-Harris administration’s complicity in the Israeli government’s assault on Gaza, the West Bank, and now Lebanon and the unconscionable loss of life for Palestinian and Lebanese people. But we believe the alternative—a return to Trump and the authoritarianism that defines his politics—would be catastrophic. It would further erode the small democratic space that still exists for collective action. We know many, particularly young people, feel disillusioned with electoral politics, but we believe disengagement is not the answer. As Congresswoman Pressley says, “We don’t elect saviors, we elect people we believe we can push and hold accountable” while continuing to organize locally, where we can have the greatest impact. With the Electoral College likely to be extremely close in this election, we believe the popular vote actually matters and we believe every vote matters. Now is the time to step up, not sit out.
Allison Cartwright for Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court
Website and Candidate Questionnaire
The JP Progressives endorse Allison Cartwright for Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County. The Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is another little-known but important role in our judicial system. One of the reasons most voters don’t know about this role is because it has very little turnover; the current office holder was elected in 1996.
At its core, the Clerk is an administrative role, responsible for maintaining court records, running court sessions, ensuring the smooth operation of the court’s daily activities—from handling the filing of appeals to the dissemination of court decisions—as well as overseeing lawyer discipline and bar admission. This position demands a person with exceptional organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, a deep understanding of the legal system and legal procedures, and a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness.
Allison Cartwright brings more than three decades of practicing law to the role. Perhaps more important for the position, she has a proven track record in management. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Public Defender Division’s Central region, overseeing 75 staff members. As a progressive organization, we are particularly encouraged by the fact that the type of justice she chose to practice is in the public defender’s office. Her work as a public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services has equipped her with firsthand experience in addressing the systemic injustices within our legal system, which includes an understanding of how poor administrative functions can compound these injustices.
Allison’s campaign has earned the support of many progressive elected officials and organizations, including Mayor Michelle Wu, our JP State Representative Sam Montaño, the UAW representing legal aid workers, the Boston Teachers Union, and too many others to name. The full list can be found at her website.
Allison Cartwright represents the forward-thinking and inclusive approach that our community needs. Please join JPP in voting for Allison Cartwright for Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court.
Uncontested Races in 2024
As an organization, JPP generally does not endorse in uncontested elections, but our guidelines allow for re-endorsements of candidates previously endorsed by JPP. Based on this criteria, we have voted to re-endorse the following candidates, who we have endorsed previously and who are running uncontested:
- Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (7th District)
- State Senator Liz Miranda (2nd Suffolk)
- State Representative Sam Montaño (15th Suffolk)
Senate
In the primary, Senator Elizabeth Warren was uncontested and as we said, JPP generally does not endorse in uncontested elections, but our guidelines allowed us to re-endorse Senator Warren. Now that we have moved on to the general election, she does have a Republican challenger in John Deaton, and we renew our endorsement of her candidacy.
Ballot Questions
This November, VOTE YES on all 5 (or 6, depending on your district) Ballot Qs
VOTE YES on Question 1 to clarify that the State Auditor has the authority to audit the Legislature. Such audits have occurred in the past, and efforts to increase transparency of the MA Legislature are critical as our state often ranks last in state rankings of open government (and, indeed, remains the only state where all three branches of government claim full exemption from public records law).
VOTE YES on Question 2 to replace the use of the standardized MCAS test as a high school graduation requirement with a requirement based on successful mastery of coursework. Putting so much emphasis on a single test — as opposed to the regular, ongoing assessments teachers do in the classroom — forces teachers to teach test-taking skills instead of infusing critical thinking and individualized learning into classrooms. High-stakes standardized testing is notorious for biases against English Language Learners, students with special needs, and students of color, and all students suffer from the increased anxiety that high stakes impose.
Voters in the 10th Suffolk (represented by Rep. Bill MacGregor) and the 14th Suffolk (represented by Rep. Rob Consalvo) will see Question 6 on their ballots. Those JP residents in the 15th Suffolk (represented by Rep. Sam Montaño) will NOT have Question 6 on their ballots.
